The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s Winter Mixed Sale concluded with an open
session on Friday and a yearling filly by Posse, Hip No. 1168, fetched the top price of $85,000 from Barry Berkelhammer.
Consigned by Summerfield (Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck), agent, the
Florida-bred is the first foal out of stakes-placed winner Eltisha (Eltish). Her third
dam, Doodle (Dewan), won the second division of the 1983 Chrysanthemum H. (G3) and
produced stakes winner Red Lightning (Storm Boot). The session topper descends
from the same female family as Grade 1 winner Judger (Damascus) as well as Grade 2
winners Bicker (Round Table) and Proof (Believe It).
Hip 1267, GREY BALLET (Imperial Ballet [Ire]), was purchased by Lambholm
South, agent, for $60,000 as the second-highest priced seller on the day.
Consigned by Summerfield, agent, the eight-year-old is out of Miss Tickled Pink
(Lot O’ Gold), who is out of the stakes-winning mare Ida (Lt. Stevens). Grey
Ballet was last sold for $160,000 at the 2004 Keeneland November Breeding Stock
Sale.
Over four seasons of racing, the gray mare earned $175,735 while racking up a
19-4-4-0 line that included a victory in the 2001 Lenta S. She is currently in
foal to Peace Rules on a March 10 cover.
ELTISHA, dam of the session-topping filly, brought $45,000 from Broken Back Farm. The seven-year-old mare, Hip 1005, was cataloged in foal to Peace Rules on a February 19 cover. Eltisha,
who was also consigned by Summerfield, finished third in the 2002 Roamin Rachel S. at Calder and won five of 25
starts, earning $112,547.
For the session, 211 horses brought a total of $1,123,500, averaging $5,325
with a $2,700 median. Last year featured two open sessions, selling 311 horses
for $1,764,800, with a $5,675 average and $3,200 median. The buyback
rate was 21.5 percent compared to 23.9 in 2005.
For the sale, 744 horses were purchased for $10,557,900. This was up 18.2
percent from last year when 684 horses sold for $8,929,600. The average
increased 8.7 percent, from $13,055 to $14,191. The buyback percentage decreased
from 31.9 percent to 30.6 percent.
The sales topper this year was Hip 74, LUNAR STAR (Silver Ghost), a
nine-year-old mare in foal to Songandaprayer who was sold to Matthews Stables
for $265,000.